Gas and liquid contact apparatus



April 24, 1928. 1,667,136

l c. M. ALEXANDER GAS AND LIQUID CONTACT APPARATUS Filed Nov. 27. 1926 2Sheets-Sheet l ATTO R N EY April 24. 1928.

C. M. ALEXANDER GAS AND LIQUID CONTACT APPARATUS Filed Nov. 27. 1926 2Sheets-Shen#` 2 INVENTOR C//ve M. Alexa/7de(- BY PM QM Mm ATToRNEYsPatented Apr. 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES OLIVE M. ALEXANDER, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

GAS AND LIQUID CONTACT APARATUS,

Application filed November 27, 1926.

This invention relates to improvements.in gas and liquid or vapor andliquid contact apparatus. lrlore particularly the present inventionrelates to improved bubble towers such as are used for t'ractionatingtowers, absorbing towers, scrubbing towers and the like where it isdesired to intimately contact a vapor or `gas with a liquid. Theinvention also includes an improved tray which may be advantageouslyemployed in the improved bubble tower ot' the invention, but which mayalso be advantageously adapted to other types ot gas and liquid or vaporand liquid contact apparatus.

Towers tor these several purposes are commonly made up ot a series ofpans or trays in each ot which a number ot upwardly directed nipples arearranged, caps being arranged over the nipples to compel gases andvapors rising through the nipple to bubble under the rim or throughopenings in the side walls of the cap through a pool ot' liquidmaintained on the pan or tray. Overflow connections are also provided tomaintain a liquid level at or above the upper edge of the openings inthe bubble caps through which the gases or vapors are discharged and topermit excess liquid to pass to the next lower pan or tray in theseries, but to torni a seal preventing the gases or vapors from passingupwardly therethrough to the next higher pan or tray in the series.

Various ar angements of trays and overl'low connections have beenemployed, in some of which the overflow connections t'or adjacent trayswere arranged on opposite sides ol' the tower so that the liquidenterinv.' from the next higher tray is required to flow across thefully width Ot' the pan or tray betore being permitted to pass to thenext lower pan otl the series. Another arrangement frequently employedis to arrange the overflow connections between all ot' the pans or trayson the saine side ot' the bubble tower.

The former arrangement has the advantagtx ot prt-venting the Aformationot' dead spots. a condition lcommon in towers with the second namedarrangement, in which parts ot the liquid body more remote trom theoverflow connections are permitted to remain -t'or a considerableperiod, becoming increasingly saturated with absorbable or condensableconstituents while parts ot the body ot liquid nearest the overflowconnections are continually replenished with fresh liquid trein a highertray, the excess liquid passing Serial No. 151,067.

to the next lower tray being less saturated with the absorbable orcondensable constituents from the gas or vapor than that lying stagnantin the socalled dead spots, and insures a substantially uni'lorm amountof contact between the gas or vapor and all parts ot the liquid streamwhereby the liquid in passing across the tray becomes progressivelysaturated. v

The tirst named arrangement, however, has the disadvantage that whilethe liquid passing downwardly through the tower contains a progressivelyincreasing amount ot' absorbable constituents, or, as in the case ofat'ractionating tower, a progressively increasing amount ot` higherboiling and decreasing amount of lower boiling constituents so that thecomposition of the liquid entering consecutive trays diti'ers byapproximately equal increments, the composition ot the liquid on twoadjacent trays on the/side ot' the overflow connection between them isapproximately the same while that on the opposite side differs by a muchgreater increment than that of the liquid entering the two adjacenttrays. Vith this condition existing the gas or vapor passing upwardly oneither side ot" the tower is contacted in alternate trays with a. liquidof substantially the lsame composition, temperature or degree otlsaturation as itencountered in vthe previous tray so that only a slightadditional amount ol absorption or condensation may be expected asaresult otl the second contacting. The. etticiency of the tower as anabsorber or condenser is therefore greatly reduced as a considerableportion of each tray is of little or no utility. The accuracy of.fractionation which may be secured is also greatly vimpaired dne to theirregular gradient of the composition ot the liquid with which the gasesor vapors are contacted and the consequent irregular gradient in thepartial pressure ot` any one constituent ot' the vapors in passingthrough the tower.

This invention provides an improved bubble tower ot special value inoperations ot the type above described. lith the improved bubble towerof the invention it is possible to conduct t 'actionation or absorbingwerations so that a uniform gradient of compositionot liquid ismaintained between corresponding parts oi' the liquid body on each ot'the consecutive trays ot the series and at the same time prevent theformation ot dead spots in the liquid body on anyone maintaining` asubstantially constant composition of all parts of the liquid streamwith which the gases or vapors are contacted. The liquid is thenconducted in compact streams in free communication with the vapor spaceof that ooi-upartment and in direct Contact heat exchanging relationwith the Walls of the container `by the annular passages 29 'to theholes 22 immediately adjacent the receivingA means Where it isdischarged througgh the plate to the troughs 2?. rllhe liquid is thenceconducted by the troughs 23 to the central discharge pipe 2S throughwhich it passes to the receiving means in the next lower tray of theseries at a poii-it-dircctly lieloiv that at which it uns received inthe precedingl tray.

l claim: l

l. An improved bubble tower comprising a verticallyv arranged containerhaving a series of plates supported therein in spaced relation` saidplates being); sealed With the walls of the container Vso as to form aseries of confipartments intermedi-ate successiveplates of the series,means for receiving,` a liquid' at corresponding points in a verticalline on the upper surface of each of said plates and for flowingl astream of the liquid therefrom across each of the plates in the seriesin the same direction, means for contacting liquid on the surface ofsaid plates with a gas or vapor rising upwardly there through, means forreturning` the liquid in coniiiact streams in free communication withthe vapor space of the compartment immediately above each of said platesto a point on said plates near said receiving` means and for dischargingthe liquid therefrom through cach of said pla-tes to the receivinglmeans for the next lower plate of the series.

E2. An improved bubble tower comprising a vertically arranged containerrhaving,` a series of plates supported therein in spaced relation, saidplates beingV sealed With 'the Walls of the container so as to form aseries of compartments intermediate successive plates of the series,means for receivingl a liquid at corresponding points in a vertical lineon the upper surface of each of said piatesand for flowing` a stream ofthe liquid therefrom across each of the plates in the series iusthe samedirection, means for coutacting' liquid on the surface of said plateswith a gas or vapor rising upwardlyY there through, means for returningthe liquid in annular paths at the outer edge of said plates and in heatexchanging relation with the Wall of the container to a point on theplates near that at Which said liquid was received, and meansfordischarging` the liquid therefrom through each of said plates to thereceiving means for the nest lower plate of the series.

3. An improved huhhle tower comprisingl a 4vertically arrangedcontainer' having a serees/,iso

ries of plates supported therein-in spaced relation, said plates beingsealed with the walls of the container' so as to form a series ofcompartments intermediate successive plates of the series, means forreceiving a liquid at corresponding points in a vertical line on theupper surface ot each of said 'plates and for flowing' a stream of theliquid therefrom across each of the plates in the series in the samedirection, means for coiitacting` liquid on the surface of said plateswith a, gas or vapor rising` upwardly there hroiuch7 means forretmrning` the liquid in annular paths at the outer edele of said platesto a point near said receivingl means said annular paths hcin.;r in freecon'ln'iunication With the vapor siiace of the con'i'iartmentin'unediatelv above said plates, and means for discharging the liquidtherefrom through each of said plates to the receiving means for thenext lower plate of the series.

l. An improved bubble toiver comprisiimm a vertically arranged containerhaving; a series of plates supported therein in spaced relatiom saidplates being sealed with the walls of the container so as to form aseries of compartments intermediate successive plates of the series,means for receiving a liquid at corresponding points in a vertical lineon the upper surface of each of said plates and for flowing` a stream ofthe liquid therefrom across eachl of the plates in the series .inthe'same direction, .means for contacting` liquid on the surface of saidplates with a gas or vapor rising upwariflly therethrough, means forreturningthe liquid in annular paths at the outer edge of said plates inheat exchanging relation with the Walls of the container to a point nearsaid receiving' means, said annular paths heincl in free communicationwith the vapor space of the con'ipartment-s immediately above saidplates and means for discharging the liquid through each of said platesto the receiving; means for the next loiver plate of the series.

5. An improved bubble tower comprising` a verticallyv arranged containerhavinir a se"- ries of plates supported ther-ein in spaced relation7said plates heine` sealed with the walls of the container so as to forma series of compartments intermediate successive plates of the series,means for receiving` a liquid at corresponding' points in a verticalline on the upper surface of each of said plates and for lloivina` astream of the liquid therefrom across each of the plates in the seriesin the same direction, means for contactingl liquid on the surface ofsaid. plates with a as or vapor rising upwardly therethrougrhl and meansfor coolingl and returning the liquid in compact streams to the reciving means on the next lower plate of the series.

6. An improved huhhle tower comprisingr a vertically arranged containerhaving a series of plates supported therein in spaced llli lill)relation, said plates being sealed with the walls oi' the container soas to form a series ot compartmentsintermediate successive plates of theseries, means for receiving a liquid at corresponding points in avertical line on the upperI surface ot each ot' said plates and foriiowing a stream ot the liquid there'ron'i across each of the plates inthe series in the same direction, means for contacting liquid on thesurface of said plates with a gas or vapor rising upwardly therethrough,means for cooling and returning the liquid in compact streams and intree Communication with the vapor space of the con'ipartment immediatelyabove said plates to a point near said receiving means, and means Ytordischarging the liquid downwardly therefrom through each ot' said platesto the receiving means :tor the next lower plato ot the series.

'i'. An improved bubble tower comprising a vertically arranged containerhaving a series of plates supported therein in spaced relation, saidplates being sealed with the walls of the container so as to torm aseries or" compartments intermediate successive. plates ot' the series,means 'for receiving a liquid at corresl'ionding points in a verticalline on the upper surface or' each ot` said plates and for flowing astream ot' the liquid therefrom across each of the plates in the seriesin the same direction, means for contacting liquid on the suri'ace ofsai-d plates with a gas or vapor rising upwardly therethrough, and meansfor returning the liquid in compact streams to the receiving means onthe next lower plate ot' the series.

8. An improved tray for gas and liquid contact apparatus comprising ahorizontally arranged plate adapted to be supported in a verticallyYarranged container, means for receiving a. liquid from a point abovesaid plate and for ilowing a stream ot the liquid therefrom across theupper surface of said plate to the opposite side thereof. means forcontacting said liquid stream with a gas rising upwardly through saidplate. and means adapted to cooperate with the' wall oit the containerYt'or returning the liquid in a compact stream from the opposite side ofthe plate to a point near said receiving means and for discharging theliquid therefrom to the lower side of the plate.

9. An improved tray lor gas and liquid contact apparatus comprising ahoriL/.ontally7 arranged plate adapted to be Supported in a verticallyarranged container, means for receiving a liquid from a point above saidplate, ine-ans adapted to cooperate with the wall ot' the container toiorm an annular passage at the outer edge ot said plate, means foriiowing a stream of liquid from said receiving means across the uppersurface ot' the plate to the opposite side thereol'l and for contactingsaid liquid stream with a gas rising upwardly through the plate, means'for (,lischarging said liquid into the annular' passage at a pointsubstantially opposite said receiving means, and means -tor dischargingthe liquid from the annular passage at a point near said receiving meansto the lower side oi the plate.

l0. An in'iprovcd tray for gas and liquid contact apparatus comprising ahorizontall y arranged plate adapted to be supported in a verticali)varranged container, means for receiving a liquid trom a point above saidplate and for flowing a stream of liquid therefrom across the uppersurface ot' said plate to the opposite side thereof, means forcontacting said liquid stream with a gas rising upwardly through theplate and means adapted to cooperate with the wall of the container toform an open trough for returning the liquid in a compact stream fromthe opposite side thereof to a point near said receiving means while infree eonn'nunication above one wall of said trough with said contactingmeans and for discharging the liquid therefrom to the lower side ot theplate.

ll. An improved tray for gas and liquid contact apparatus comprising ahorizontally arranged plate adapted to be supported in a verticallyarranged container, means for receiving a liquid from a point above saidplate and for llowiug a stream of the liquid therefrom across the uppersurface of the plate to the opposite side thereof, means for contactingthe said liquid stream with a gas rising upwardly tlirough the plate.means adapted to cooperate with the wall ot' the container to return theliquid in a compact stream in heat exchanging relation with saidcontainer wall from the opposite side of the plate to a point near saidreceiving` means, and means for passing the liquid downwardlv theret'romthrough said plate and discharging it from the lower side thereol.

ln testimony whereo'l I atiix my signature.

CLVE M. ALEYAN'DER.

